Malaysia’s Alyaa Abdulghany contributed three points out of a possible four for the International Team in the Arnold Palmer Cup, helping her side storm to a landslide 40.5 to 19.5 victory over Team USA at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida.
The annual Ryder Cup-style event pits the top men’s and women’s college golfers from the United States against their international counterparts. This year’s event was originally scheduled to be played July 3-5 at Lahinch Golf Club in Ireland, but was moved to a December date at Bay Hill due to Covid-19 and travel restrictions.
Needing just 3.5 points at the start of the final day to retain the Cup, the Internationals dropped a few matches early on but then earned points in five straight matches to seal the victory. This was Team International’s second consecutive Arnold Palmer Cup win, with the United States still leading the series 12-11-1.
Alyaa opened her campaign in the Day 1 mixed fourball matches, teaming up with Angus Flanagan to to beat Team USA’s Latanna Stone and Davis Thompson 2&1. On Day 2, Alyaa delivered two more wins: in the morning foursomes with Sophie Guo against Stone and Julia Johnson (1-up), and in the afternoon mixed foursomes with Flanagan again against Copper Dossey and Emilia Migliaccio (1-up).
In the Day 3 singles, Alyaa lost to Team USA’s Gina Kim 4&3, by which time the Internationals’ win had already been secured.
John Pak of Team USA and Thailand’s Puwit Anupansuebsai of Team International were named recipients of the Michael Carter Award, which is presented to Arnold Palmer Cup participants who best represent the qualities and ideals of sportsmanship, integrity and upholding of the game.
Matthias Schmid of Germany was selected by both teams to receive the Arnold Palmer Cup exemption to the 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard.
For more information, visit ArnoldPalmerCup.com
